Published: Saturday, February 16, 2013 at 6:01 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, February 16, 2013 at 6:01 p.m.

SARASOTA COUNTY - It has been more than four and a half years since Carol Teehee's 20-year-old son, Alex was killed by a hit-and-run driver, yet the North Port woman is still pursuing justice.

The family hopes new attention to the case Monday will spur progress, as the unsolved death of the father of two is featured on the national "Dr. Phil" TV show.

"No one was held accountable for my son's death," Carol Teehee said. "I hope someone helps us fix the justice system and the case is reopened, reinvestigated and prosecuted. The prosecution — that's what failed us. Either there was a reason they didn't prosecute, or it was mishandled."

Teehee was walking north on Sibley Bay Street in Charlotte County on the night of July 13, 2008, when a vehicle going in the same direction struck him and drove away, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. He was flown to Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers, where he died from head trauma the next day.

The family cooperated with the investigation, even delaying Teehee's obituary and memorial service for nearly two weeks to help officials, who said keeping the death out of the public eye would help them catch the killer.

The Teehees found three profanity-laden messages on Alex Teehee's cellphone. Two brief messages, in a frantic voice, threatened Teehee hours before he was hit for contacting the caller when he wasn't supposed to. One message referred to an AK-47 rifle and the second closes with the words "gonna \ kill you."

A third message left after the crash admonished Teehee for stealing from the caller and jumping out of a car.

The family hired an engineer to reconstruct the hit-and-run, all in an effort to make the case that Teehee was lured to Sibley Bay Street by drug dealers and killed.

State prosecutors indicated they believed three people knew what happened to Teehee that night, all young men who were part of Teehee's social circle and may have dabbled in drugs and petty crimes.

Ralph Loosman, who was 21 at the time, was scheduled to face trial on manslaughter charges in the case in 2010. Loosman pleaded not guilty and said he was not involved in Teehee's death.

State prosecutor Don Mason abruptly dropped the charges against Loosman on Aug. 23, the day the trial was slated to start, citing missing witnesses.

Dr. Phil's show is to air at 4 p.m. Monday. The family will host a viewing at Buffalo Wings and Rings 1081 W. Price Blvd. in North Port.

"We need support from the community," said Carol Teehee. "I don't think a lot of people are aware of what happened."

A website has been set up at www.JusticeForAlexTeehee.com, as well as a tip line, 866-968-ALEX. A $20,000 reward is offered for information leading to a conviction in the case.

<p><em>SARASOTA COUNTY</em> - It has been more than four and a half years since Carol Teehee's 20-year-old son, Alex was killed by a hit-and-run driver, yet the North Port woman is still pursuing justice.</p><p>The family hopes new attention to the case Monday will spur progress, as the unsolved death of the father of two is featured on the national "Dr. Phil" TV show.</p><p>"No one was held accountable for my son's death," Carol Teehee said. "I hope someone helps us fix the justice system and the case is reopened, reinvestigated and prosecuted. The prosecution — that's what failed us. Either there was a reason they didn't prosecute, or it was mishandled."</p><p>Teehee was walking north on Sibley Bay Street in Charlotte County on the night of July 13, 2008, when a vehicle going in the same direction struck him and drove away, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. He was flown to Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers, where he died from head trauma the next day.</p><p>The family cooperated with the investigation, even delaying Teehee's obituary and memorial service for nearly two weeks to help officials, who said keeping the death out of the public eye would help them catch the killer.</p><p>The Teehees found three profanity-laden messages on Alex Teehee's cellphone. Two brief messages, in a frantic voice, threatened Teehee hours before he was hit for contacting the caller when he wasn't supposed to. One message referred to an AK-47 rifle and the second closes with the words "gonna \ kill you."</p><p>A third message left after the crash admonished Teehee for stealing from the caller and jumping out of a car.</p><p>The family hired an engineer to reconstruct the hit-and-run, all in an effort to make the case that Teehee was lured to Sibley Bay Street by drug dealers and killed.</p><p>State prosecutors indicated they believed three people knew what happened to Teehee that night, all young men who were part of Teehee's social circle and may have dabbled in drugs and petty crimes.</p><p>Ralph Loosman, who was 21 at the time, was scheduled to face trial on manslaughter charges in the case in 2010. Loosman pleaded not guilty and said he was not involved in Teehee's death.</p><p>State prosecutor Don Mason abruptly dropped the charges against Loosman on Aug. 23, the day the trial was slated to start, citing missing witnesses.</p><p>Dr. Phil's show is to air at 4 p.m. Monday. The family will host a viewing at Buffalo Wings and Rings 1081 W. Price Blvd. in North Port.</p><p>"We need support from the community," said Carol Teehee. "I don't think a lot of people are aware of what happened."</p><p>A website has been set up at www.JusticeForAlexTeehee.com, as well as a tip line, 866-968-ALEX. A $20,000 reward is offered for information leading to a conviction in the case.</p>